River Danube

[peter23]

Thinking very seriously about bringing the boat back to UK from Greece via the River Danube/River Rhine. Has anyone had this experience and can offer guidance and or advice

 

[Twister_Ken]

Seem to remember one of the saily mags did an article on the Danube about 18-24 months back. Might be worth trying to find. Only thought is you'll be going uphill on the Danube, so you might need a motor with welly to spare, or pick times of low river flow.

 

[PhilipF]

Thinking very seriously about bringing the boat back to UK from Greece via the River Danube/River Rhine.

Agree with Ken. I've been down the river on a ferry from Vienna to Bratislava. The very small amount of traffic coming upstream, was making very heavy weather of fighting against the current, and holding in close against the banks, to try and avoid the worst streams. I imagine they know the course well.

You will know that Rod Heikel has written a book following the entire river to the Black Sea. Published by Imrey I think

 

[Searush]

I too have stood on the banks of the Danube is several places & watched the ships flying downhill & slowly creeping back up again. I reckoned it was doing around 10kts in places. You will need plenty of fuel.

 

[Norman_E]

I wonder if it would be cost effective to get the boat trucked to a point where you could enter the canal system, or the Rhine.

 

[peter23]

Seem to remember one of the saily mags did an article on the Danube about 18-24 months back. Might be worth trying to find. Only thought is you'll be going uphill on the Danube, so you might need a motor with welly to spare, or pick times of low river flow.

Peter23 Thanks for the information. I will search for the Mag with the article. My boat is a Finnsailer 35 with a 85 horse engine but from information already seen this may not be enough. I will not give up yet!

 

[peter23]

Agree with Ken. I've been down the river on a ferry from Vienna to Bratislava. The very small amount of traffic coming upstream, was making very heavy weather of fighting against the current, and holding in close against the banks, to try and avoid the worst streams. I imagine they know the course well.

You will know that Rod Heikel has written a book following the entire river to the Black Sea. Published by Imrey I think

I didn't know that Rod had written a book on the Danube, but by the look of your answer he obviously did it the easy way; downhill! It would however be interesting to read the book.

 

[peter23]

I wonder if it would be cost effective to get the boat trucked to a point where you could enter the canal system, or the Rhine.

Trucking is a very expensive option. I am a 77 year old pensioner who has to think twice about the expenses involved.

 

[peter23]

I too have stood on the banks of the Danube is several places & watched the ships flying downhill & slowly creeping back up again. I reckoned it was doing around 10kts in places. You will need plenty of fuel.

10 knots may be a bit too much but I carry 420 litres of fuel and at 3 litres an hour it gives a fair amount of distance. Even so; I have no idea of the distance between filling stations.

 

[macd]

I didn't know that Rod had written a book on the Danube, but by the look of your answer he obviously did it the easy way; downhill!

He was airlifted up the Rhine, then?
That rattles downhill at a fair old rate.

 

[peter23]

He was airlifted up the Rhine, then?
That rattles downhill at a fair old rate.

Apologies! I was thinking of the Damube but I know the Rhine is very swift.

 

[Searush]

I've been doing some research;

Bratislava > Vienna (52m) = 9hours

Vienna > Bratislava (52m) = 5 hours

Therefore the current makes 4 hours journey time difference (+2 & -2) thus boat speed is 52m/7hrs = 7.3 kts. So it would seem that my waterside perception is rather high.

As a cross check, speeds are around 10.4 kts downstream & 5.7 kts upstream, which suggests around 3kts current in that region, which is manageable, if expensive.

I have to say, it seemed worse than that looking at it, but it is a long time ago. The worst gradients are apperently on teh upper reaches & some sections are canalised, plus there are Hydro-electric damns that you lock around all of which will reduce currents.

 

[peter23]

Danube

Thanks for the calculations. I can make 7.5 knots so it is still a feasable proposition even though as I see it at this time, a lot of hard work.

 

[Searush]

Thanks for the calculations. I can make 7.5 knots so it is still a feasable proposition even though as I see it at this time, a lot of hard work.

But could be worth a book . . . or a dvd.